Lewis Hamilton’s "reinvigorated" Ferrari form earns praise from Nigel Mansell

Nigel Mansell has praised Lewis Hamilton for his work at Ferrari, claiming the seven-time Formula 1 champion is "fired up again" after a difficult first year with the squad.

Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 after a 12-year stint with Mercedes, during which he won six of his seven titles. While his first year at the Maranello outfit proved troublesome as he adjusted to the new team, the Briton has had a much stronger start to 2026. 

The 41-year-old driver currently sits fourth in the drivers' standings with 41 points after claiming his first podium finish with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix in addition to fourth and sixth-place finishes at the Australian and Japanese Grands Prix, respectively.

"Lewis is fired up again. Lewis has had a brilliant career and it's fantastic what he's doing," Mansell told Sky Sports News.

"He's now reinvigorated. Ferrari has done a fabulous job over the winter. They're there or thereabouts, Mercedes are the forerunners and McLaren is going to be there too."

Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007, making this his 20th season in the championship. He reflected on the highs and lows of his career ahead of the 2026 season start, insisting that he was "still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream."

"20 seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number. It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything," he wrote on Instagram.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

"Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it. A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn’t break no matter what’s thrown in your face or what you come up against. There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can’t ever stop fighting.

"Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter. You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.

"I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams. I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back."